Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)


We’re given a good opportunity to see a glimpse of what the kingdom of heaven is like. Dr. Luke puts a story uttered by the lips of our Lord Jesus to illustrate why worldly wealth cannot save humanity and thus what true life is. Many a people thinks that worldly wealth makes life easy, smooth, and worry-free. It’s not true ever. In fact, fortune and wealth are not ours but the owner’s property which has been given for us to use rightly. One of these days, we shall give in everything we have and be naked just as we have come into the world naked. But that’s not the end of story. After death, eternity begins in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:50). One kind of people will be in eternal paradise with the Lord Jesus Christ forever and the other will be in eternal death separated from God infinitely. So, we shall heed to what our Lord Jesus says because he was from the Father, not from the earth. He tells us the truth which reveals the fundamental reality of life.  

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.” (Luke 16:19-21)

Interestingly enough, Jesus reveals the name of a beggar, Lazarus but not of a rich man. I believe it is intentional, highlighting that God even remembers the least significant figure in the worldly viewpoint. Jesus said that what people value highly is detestable and abominable to God (Luke 16:15). The rich man in this story lived in luxury every day while Lazarus suffered great deal from the sores and longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. His companion was the dogs that licked his sores. What a contrast between two men! But it is still going on around us and in every corner of the earth. This story is really telling us the reality of life what is going on honestly and truthfully. It’s happen in any society, class, color, status, community, region, and country. It is even true in a family where some children are like the rich man and some are like Lazarus.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.” (Luke 16:22)

The time came according to the number of days set by God and both died (Psalm 90:12). No one can escape from it as the Scripture tells plainly, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27) But the destination is completely different each other. Lazarus died and the angles carried him to Abraham’s side, the righteous one. The rich man also died and was buried. Believe it or not, that’s the fate of humanity. One of the unchanging statistics in history ever is the death rate of humanity—precisely 100% flat.

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19)

As Hebrews tells, after death people are destined to face judgment. But Lazarus didn’t face judgment at all but was immediately put in Abraham’s side by the angels. Some may ask why Lazarus went to heaven and the rich man did to hell. The parable didn’t say the reason but left in the air. It’s because it’s obviously known in the scriptures that no one can come to the Father except through the Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6). There is no other way to come to be clothed with the righteousness of God than to believe in the Son Jesus Christ who was sent by the Father (John 3:16). Lazarus wasn’t carried to Abraham’s side because he was a beggar, nor the rich man was put into hell because he was rich. One believed in Christ Jesus and other did not.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Some may ask why Lazarus was carried to Abraham’s side without judgment. Jesus answers that question. By believing him, they have been already judged because Christ has died, paying the price for the sins and transgressions they have committed. Christ has paid it all for those who believe in him whom the Father sent according to the scriptures.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

This story shows a glimpse of heaven and hell. Most of all, our Lord Jesus says out of his own lips that heaven and hell are real. That’s why he mentioned about hell more frequently than anyone else in the Scriptures.

“In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’” (Luke 16:23-26)

Hades means the second death after the first physical death. It’s called the judgement of God. The rich man was in hades where he was in torment. In great distress and thirst he looked up and saw Abraham far away, calling to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” It is interestingly true that the rich man in hell could see Abraham and Lazarus in heaven but there is no mention of others in the hell, which implies there is no touch and contact each other in the hell. Many worldly people foolishly and naively say that they could enjoy the orgies and debaucheries with all the bad guys in hell. But that’s not true. The distance to Abraham was said far away which implies unapproachable. C. S. Lewis calls it hell as the place of eternal isolation from all the resources available in God. It is a dreadful and horrible description of hell. Furthermore, there are unceasing and relentless torment, anguish, distress, and most of all thirst in the fire of hell. He was desperately thirsty for cooling down his tongue even by the tip of Lazarus’ finger.

What is Abraham’s answer? First, he reminded of his lifetime on the earth that he received good things while Lazarus received bad things. While he lived in luxury, Lazarus was covered with sores and so hungry that he longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Our Lord Jesus may be pointing out the indifference and selfishness of the man who was given numerous opportunities to practice the generosity of giving and care for the poor like Lazarus and yet refused and rejected in his stubbornness and obstinacy. He didn’t appreciate the generous giving of the Father, nor bought up the opportunities to repent. Now he was in agony and Lazarus was comforted. It truly reminds us of our Lord’s teachings of the Sermon on the Mount.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:3-7)

In the parable, Abraham said an amazing truth that a great chasm has been set between heaven and hell and no one can come and go from one side to the other. This is hard to believe but true that there will be eternal separation and isolation from good things for those who keep on rejecting and refusing to repent. Why is there such a severe judgment? Is God still just? It’s been asked and questioned thousands of thousand times in human history from all sides of the earth. Our Lord continues to answer the question of humanity.

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:27-31)

Then the rich man in hades begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers in the earth to be warned, so that they would not also come to this place of torment and distress. What Abraham said was the most remarkable. He said that they had Moses and the Prophets and let them listen to them. But the man insisted that if someone from the dead went to them they would repent. Abraham said to him if they didn’t listen to Moses and the Prophets they would not be convinced even if someone rose from the dead. Historically, it was proved that even if Jesus Christ was risen from the dead the Jews have not believed in him until today.

Why is listening to Moses and the Prophets remarkably significant? There were two disciples who were going down to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem after being greatly disappointed and demoralized by the death of Jesus Christ whom they thought was the Messiah for Israel. They lost all hope. The risen Lord Jesus came up and walked along with them but they were kept from recognizing him. Two disciples treated the risen Lord as a stranger who knew nothing about what’s happened in Jerusalem. They witnessed that Jesus was arrested and crucified powerlessly on the cross in Calvary which shattered the hope of redeeming the nation in pieces. What they said next was the most astonishing one because it is exactly what Abraham said to the rich man. They were even told that some of the women had seen and told them he was alive. Now they were talking to the risen Jesus and yet they were kept from recognizing him.

Then, the risen Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:13-35)

Every page in Moses and the Prophets is prophesying concerning the coming of the Promised Messiah. That’s the reason when Jesus began to explain to them what was said in Moses and the Prophets their hearts were burning within them. It suddenly and amazingly came to all senses that the sufferings, the crucifixion, the blood, the news of his resurrection when our Lord Jesus explained to them. Their hearts were enlightened and strengthened by the revelation of Moses and the Prophets which faithfully and consistently prophesied concerning the Blessed Messiah.

What’s happened to them? They had already known Moses and the Prophets in knowledge and even were told by none other than Jesus himself that the Son of Man would suffer much by the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders and would be raised from the dead on the third day. They were raised in learning the Torah and the Prophets from childhood. However, all the precise and remarkable knowledge and memorization of the Scriptures just remained in the brain, not in the heart. That’s what’s happened that their hearts were burning when our Lord Jesus explained to them what was said in the Law and Prophets concerning himself. All the mysterious and difficult teachings and words of the Lord Jesus Christ in the earth to them came to senses in full measure.

It is so significant to read and study the Scriptures in such a way that Christ Jesus is the center of all things. He is the mystery of God who holds the key to solve all human problems, complications, and ignorance. Even though someone rose from the dead and spoke and warned, if they don’t listen to the Law and Prophets it is no avail to grasp the mystery of God. Listening to Moses and the Prophets means obeying the Lord Jesus Christ who is Person, following his footstep to give his life to many. It is the most dreadful and terrible thing for anyone to fall into hades. It is a strange act for God to punish and drive them into hell (Isaiah 28:21). However, God must act according to his unchanging character that if anyone continues to reject and refuse his generous offer to come in the prepared banquet he must face the judgement hand of God.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:19-31)

Prayer: Father, once again thank you for the teaching and revelation of the truth that Christ is the center of all things in our lives. Thank you for revealing the reality of heaven and hell in a most remarkable way. It’s so dreadful and frightful of the existence of hell where those who rejected and refused to repent are in unceasing torment and agony in the fire. It is so real that our Lord Jesus mentioned hell more frequently than anyone else. Thank you for your compassion and mercy that since you never wants anyone to perish and fall into hell you gave us Moses and the Prophets to read and get hold of the mystery of God, Christ Jesus the Lord and obey him. In Christ’s name. Amen.

January 26, 2016
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